Niger Flood Disaster: Death toll rises to 151, many missing

 

Joseph Irikefe

 

The death toll after Thursday’s early morning flood that ravaged communities in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State on Saturday rose to 151.

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) in a statement made available to Journalists on Saturday, said 3,018 persons were currently displaced, disclosed that the 151 dead is the number of corpses recovered so far from the flood disaster.

NSEMA had said on Thursday that a deadly flood disaster ravaged two communities of Tiffin maza and Anguwan Hausawa in Mokwa town of Mokwa LGA in Niger State.

According to the Agency, the incident occurred following a torrential downpour of very high intensity that lasted several hours.

The Director General of the NSEMA, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, revealed that three communities were affected and two bridges washed away, 503 household were affected while 265 homes were washed away, two roads were also washed away, while 11 persons got injured.

He said, “This is the latest update from the Mokwa communities flood.”

Meanwhile, the Niger State government has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently provide more support towards the intervention to communities and victims affected by the devastating flood.

Making the appeal when he received the Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatdo at Government House, Minna, the Deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba, disclosed that in the interim reports, 151 bodies recovered and buried, 318 people were displaced, 513 households and 268 houses affected, 3 communities affected were Tiffin Maza and Anguwan hausawa of Mokwa town and Rabba where 36 bodies was recovered; 11 persons injured while two roads and two bridges were washed away during the flooding.

According to him: “Assessment is still ongoing on the required needs and relevant agencies are still taking stock, hence the state government had to approve the distribution 6,000 bags of rice and other essential materials to cushion the effects of the disaster on the victims.

He further emphasised that the Federal Government’s prompt intervention in the areas of temporary camp and taking assessments of the communities in order to proffer solutions to the menace, adding that the actual causes of the flooding was still sketchy.

He commended the Federal Government for its swift response with the presence of NEMA as well as other relevant organizations.

Earlier, Idris Malagi expressed the Federal Government’s regrets over the devastating flood disaster.

He noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been fully briefed on the situation and has directed all relevant emergency and security agencies to intensify ongoing search and rescue operations.

Idris said, “The Federal Government has extended its heartfelt condolences to the Niger State government, families of the victims. In this moment of grief, the nation stands united with you in solidarity”.

He added that, “as efforts are being made to mitigate future occurrence, President Tinubu has given directives to the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to begin sensitization and awareness campaign to such communities”.

Similarly, the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatdo, while reaffirming the Federal Government’s position, pledged to review the situation on the needed areas of support to the IDPs and migrants in order to meet their needs.

He, however, disclosed that the flooding may not be unconnected with the climate change.